julie taymor

Helen Mirren and Russell Brand Form Saucy Mutual Admiration Society

8:15AM Kyle Buchanan | Sometimes, British news is tardy coming across the pond, and other times it simply takes us a little while to collect our composure after crushing disappointment. In this case, it’s a little of both, as our longtime crush Helen Mirren has publicly returned the affections of a man who is neither her husband, Taylor Hackford, nor the chiaroscuro possessor of a raised eyebrow that is the mascot of our humble blogspot. No, instead she has fallen under the charms of noted ladykiller and purity ring-eschewer Russell Brand, and this can mean only one thing: trouble. More »

‘Spider-Man: The Musical’ Open Call Seeks Vocally Gifted Peter Parker Types

3:45AM Seth | A little over a year ago, we noted that celebrated director/visual-flourishist Julie Taymor would be tackling perhaps her most challenging source material yet. This project would afford no opportunities for portentous lion births, or soldiers lugging Lady Liberty across a model Vietnam in an extremely literal interpretation of a Beatles lyric. Rather, Taymor set about adapting Spider-Man into a Broadway musical. Helping to sell audiences on a hovercraft-enabled lead villain whose big showstopper, “Everything’s Coming Up Pumpkin Bombs,” closes the first act is none other than U2’s Bono and The Edge, who came on board as composers. Now all that’s left to round out this spider-shit insane idea is you, triple-threat Tobey and Kirsten types! More »